Go ask Alice: Water torture, aka, the World Series

Wednesday

Oct 29, 2008 at 12:01 AMOct 29, 2008 at 1:41 PM

According to my husband, who is rooting for the Phillies now that the Red Sox are playing golf, and to support his crazed-sports-fan-from-Philly wife, there are about 10 people watching the World Series; Jamie Moyer’s seven children, the two of us, and baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, who staged a new musical production in Philadelphia Monday night called “Swinging in the Rain.”

Alice Coyle

In case you didn’t know, the World Series has been suspended.

You may not be aware of this development, as the October match up between the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays has reportedly received the second lowest television ratings of any Fall Classic.

According to my husband, who is rooting for the Phillies now that the Red Sox are playing golf, and to support his crazed-sports-fan-from-Philly wife, there are about 10 people watching the World Series; Jamie Moyer’s seven children, the two of us, and baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, who staged a new musical production in Philadelphia Monday night called “Swinging in the Rain.”

But low television ratings, appalling RISP statistics, autumn monsoons and Pat Burrell’s 0 for 15 record at the plate haven’t dampened my devotion for the fightin’ Phils who surprised the heck out of me by making it to their first World Series in 15 years.

Long-suffering does not begin to describe the condition of Philadelphia fans over the past quarter century since the city last had a national championship to celebrate. (Sorry Jaws and Bonjovi, The Soul’s victory doesn’t count – Arena Football hasn’t broken through)

Had I known as a suburban Philadelphia eighth-grader back in 1983 that there would be such a prolonged title drought, I surely would have cut school to attend the Sixers’ parade. Had I known that the image of Tug McGraw leaping for joy in Veterans Stadium after the Phillies beat Kansas City to win their first World Series in franchise history would have to tide me over for 28 years, I would have spent more time running around our front yard banging pots and pans with the rest of the neighbors.

There have been chances since then, opportunities squandered in Stanley Cup sweeps, frustrating NBA finals losses and an agonizing Super Bowl defeat to that football dynasty from Foxboro. There have been two chances to recapture the World Series trophy a decade apart with the same losing outcome.

Nearly resigned to eternal disappointment, I was completely taken aback when the Phillies once again won the NL East catching and surpassing the Mets for the second year in a row. When they defeated the Brewers in the division round of the playoffs I was pleasantly surprised, particularly after last year’s sweeping loss to the Rockies.

Trying not to get too ahead of myself, excitement-wise, I delighted in the Phillies impressive dismantling of the Dodgers and our first National League pennant win since beating the Braves back in ’93.

I watched the Red Sox/Rays series with growing trepidation. I feared the prospect of facing either opponent but particularly the Sox. I like the Red Sox – they have always been my favorite American League team.

I also like my husband and son, but not so much when one of my teams has to go up against one of theirs in a championship. Still fresh in my mind is the February night in 2004 when I sat in my car in the driveway listening to the last half of the Eagles/Patriots Super Bowl on my radio; our passion for our teams so great, we literally couldn’t be in the same house together to watch the game.

So the prospect of another amazing Sox comeback, while it appeared very likely, made me exceedingly uneasy, even a bit queasy. I did not delight in the Rays win, but as a result enjoy the opportunity to have everyone in my household rooting for my team, to defeat the one that sent the Red Sox home for the winter.

My husband is donning two Phillies shirts — a layered look and lucky — as the Phils have won every game in the series when he has worn it. Like Joe Blanton’s “dirty” cap, those shirts will be on for the rest of this season — even if this rain delay runs through Thanksgiving.

As for the suspension of Monday’s game, which the Phillies at 3-1 in the series were favored to win, I’ll let the ESPN pundits pontificate. But I will take a few post postponement questions:

Q: Am I worried that thanks to Selig not calling the game before it started that we wasted a Cole Hamels start?

A: Yes, somewhat, but I’m from Philadelphia, we like to worry, it’s part of a Philly fan’s psyche, along with a cautious pessimism about the outcome of every pro sports game.

Q: Was it more than a convenient coincidence that the call to suspend the game came after the Rays were able to tie the game in weather conditions that were absurdly bad?

A: Probably.

Q: Would I want the Phillies to win a World Series that way?

A: Maybe — I’m pretty darn desperate after all. (No, not really.)

Q: Am I concerned the momentum has shifted the Rays way courtesy of Mother Nature?

A: Who’s up 3-1 in this series? We’re picking up where we left off and I have confidence in our bullpen (Mitch Williams is not on the roster) and this offense to get it done in front of the home crowd in Philly.

(I say this with fingers and toes crossed, while knocking on wood and tossing salt over my right shoulder.)

Go Phils!

Alice Coyle is a Philadelphia native and managing editor of Gatehouse Media New England’s Raynham office. She can be reached at acoyle@cnc.com.